eNews Archive Issue 1 - 29 January 2026

Optimism helps young people approach challenges with hope and persistence; gratitude nurtures empathy, perspective, and connection. Together they create the conditions for strong learning, resilient wellbeing, and a warm, inclusive community. In classrooms, students will be encouraged to take academic risks by reinforcing the “yet” mindset (“I can’t do this… yet”) and notice their progress. Students will also be encouraged to practise specific and sincere gratitude—thanking peers and staff by name for the ways they help. By promoting Optimism and Gratitude, we will continue to highlight positive contributions and reinforce kindness and inclusion.

If you would also like to adopt this theme for your families here are some ideas: 

Have the Three Good Things conversation. For example, at dinner or in the car, invite your child to share three good things from the day and why they mattered. Perhaps you could also consider doing the same from your day?

Use the “Yet” Sentence as above. When something is hard, add “yet;” it signals that effort and time lead to improvement. 

Name and thank. Encourage your child to write a short thank‑you note to friends, teachers, coaches, and boarding staff.

Thank you for your partnership. With shared optimism about what our students can achieve and gratitude for the people who support them, 2026 promises to be a purposeful and uplifting year at St Margaret’s.

Several new teaching staff joined us this year. I formally welcome them to the St Margaret’s community. Their names and the areas in which they teach are listed below:

Secondary Teachers:

Faye Ryan – (Returning from two years leave - Primary and Secondary Chinese)

Kate Bell (HPE)

Claire Louw (Geography/Humanities)

Lucy Turner (English/History)

Imogen Diefenbach (English)

Jack Mercer (Mathematics)

David Tonuri (Mathematics/Business)

Tash Grundy (Primary/Secondary – French)

Rebecca Newman (Art)

Primary Teachers:

Terry Humphries (PE and Primary Sport)

Abbey Black (Prep)

Annika Graham (Year 1)

Millie Wilshire (Year 4)

Some improvement work occurred over the holidays, including refurbishment of the Year 12 boarders' rooms; the upgrade of the Years 7 and 8 Sutherland boarding bathroom; the creation of a new secondary classroom in the space used by the tuckshop and Ms Café in 2025, as well as the normal maintenance and scheduled painting.

After the success of the online secondary parent information presentations over the last two years, the senior staff have yet again put together short videos or narrated PowerPoints to provide you with the information you need about the school year ahead. I encourage you to take the time in the next couple of weeks to view the ones relevant to you. It appears that we can reach more of our parents this way with this important communication as it allows busy people to access at a time that suits them.

Happy New Year to you all!

Ros Curtis

Last week was spent with staff and I am always very grateful for the staff in our school. Whether they are in the classroom or not, each and every staff member plays an important part in the education of our girls. Spending the week with new and returning staff has filled me with optimism for 2026 and this feeling of hope was also grown by the return of all students to campus.

Our school is one that is built on the foundations of The Society of the Sacred Advent. These foundations guide us to ensure that all those in our care feel connected and safe. This foundation along with the release of the new Child Safety Standards and the Child Safe Anglican Education Policy has seen a strengthening of the importance of keeping our young people safe.

The new policy and other supporting documents can be found on the school website under Discover St Margaret’s – Child Safe Anglican Education. Below is a copy of the Public Commitment that guides us to create a safe environment for all in our care and a list of Child Safe Advocates who are available to staff, students and parents who may be concerned about the safety of a student in our community.

Public Commitment

St Margaret’s is committed to preventing, detecting and responding to child abuse and neglect. Every child has the right to be safe and feel safe.

We commit to:

• Implementing the 10 Child Safe Standards and the Universal Principle.
• Providing physically, emotionally and culturally safe care.
• Taking all reasonable steps so children are not exposed to harmful conduct or abuse.
• Empowering children to participate in decisions that affect them and share any concerns they may have.
• Educating children about who to approach if they feel unsafe.
• Ensuring all relevant people know how to respond to complaints and concerns, and breaches of our conduct expectations.
• Listening and learning and seeking to improve.

As an Anglican child safe organisation, we commit to:

• Providing children with exceptional pastoral care.
• Operating by Gospel values, emphasising service, inclusivity, integrity, character and justice.

Child Safe Advocates (Student Protection Officers):

Child Safe Advocates are persons designated as liaison people to whom students may refer if they are not feeling safe; or to whom they make complaints of harm, inappropriate behaviour or physical/sexual abuse.

The St Margaret's Child Safe Advocates are:

• Deputy Principal – Nicole Devlin
• Head of Boarding - Lesa Craven
• Dean of Students - Nikki Townsend
• Dean of Academics – Caitlin McCluskey
• Head of Primary School - Angela Drysdale
• Assistant Head of Primary – Curriculum (PP-6) – Kate Frewin
• Assistant Head of Primary – Wellbeing and Operations (PP-6) – Annette Box
• Head of Faculty – Student Pathways and Futures – Kelly Alford
• Head of Year – Nicole Walker
• Deputy Head of Boarding – Gracemere Mataia
• Senior Psychologist – Michelle Alexander
• Psychologist – Emma Greensill

I am looking forward to a year filled with learning, laughter and growth for all in our school community.

Nicole Devlin

We are proudly an Anglican school built upon the ethos and philosophy of the Society of the Sacred Advent (SSA). The SSA began in Australia in 1892 as a small group of women who stood up for what they believed in, living out their faith and values - caring for, educating, and improving the lives of women and children who faced significant hardship and injustice. Their work of building an empowering education community continued and now we gather as the community of St Margaret’s Anglican Girls School. The Society of the Sacred Advent allows space for every person to achieve their best and flourish in all areas of their lives. As we embark on the 2026 school year, we travel the path the sisters have paved for us, living out our school values – inclusivity, integrity, respect, courage, passion, and spirit.

We have a beautiful chapel, St Margaret’s Chapel, within our school grounds. Throughout the year there are regular chapel services that students will attend. There are also opportunities for families to attend services, including Admission to Holy Communion and the opportunity for baptism and confirmation. Some important dates for Term 1 are in the table below. Letters will be sent to families in due course regarding the respective services. Please be assured of my prayers and support as we begin this new school year together.

The School Prayer

God of all being, look with favour on this school dedicated to your servant, St Margaret of Antioch. Bless those who teach and those who learn and those who work to support and maintain this school. Grant wisdom and courage in our lives, gentleness of heart and compassion for all. May each seek to know and love the truth and in humility of heart, ever look to you, the source of all wisdom and understanding.
We ask these things through your Son’s name, Amen.

Important Dates for Term One:

Rev’d Jazz Dow

I would also like to congratulate Charlotte B, who alongside day girl, Polly Y, will lead the school this year as School Captains. It is an honour to have one of our boarders at the forefront of school leadership, and I am confident that Charlotte will represent the boarding house and our values well. 

2026 promises to be another exciting year for us in boarding. As always, the first weekend of the school year will be a Closed Weekend, an initiative designed to increase boarding community and connection, inter-cohort bonds and, for our newest boarders, show them all the best parts of being in our special community. We have plenty of fun and exciting activities planned, plus the always much anticipated Sunday trip to Wet'n'Wild on the Gold Coast with other boarding schools. 

The boarding house is such an integral part of our wider school community, not just as a place where the girls stay for the school term, but as a home. It's where our girls learn who they are as individuals, where their strengths lie, and what their values are, but also, it is a place where they learn who they are within their local and global community. Our girls come from all over Australia and overseas to form part of a unique, diverse and strong boarding community, and it is imperative that we help them along their own individuating journeys, but also the one they will undergo as a community with people who are different from themselves. This is why initiatives like out Closed Weekend are imperative to our boarding culture and creating a sense of homeliness, community and connection. 

I look forward to working with you all this year and to creating stronger connections than ever before. 2026 will be another fantastic year for our boarding house and I can't wait for you to be part of this journey with us. 

Lesa Craven

As students settle back into their school routine, it’s a good time to remember some of the positive habits that have been developed over previous years. All students are encouraged to have a dedicated study space that is free from clutter and distraction. Planning out time helps to avoid procrastination and also makes the most of the time you do have available, especially if you have lots of non-academic commitments.

In Academic Advising, Years 11 and 12 students who have ILOs (Independent Learning Options) will be spending the next few weeks working on strategies and schedules to make the most of these.

At school, the Year 12 students are reminded that they have access to the Senior Study Centre until 5pm only. If students wish to stay at school beyond 5pm they may sign up to Supervised Study which occurs in the library from 5pm – 7:30pm. Supervised Study will begin in Week 2 of each term. In addition, all day students are reminded that no tutors are permitted to work on St Margaret’s school grounds.

Congratulations to all students who received awards at the Academic Assembly on Tuesday and I am looking forward to celebrating the 2025 Year 12 cohort’s successes at the Scholars’ Assembly next week.

Caitlin McCluskey

Supervised Study Sessions

Supervised Study Sessions (SSS) will recommence in Week 2 of this term. It will operate out of the Eunice Resource Centre (Senior Library) on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday evenings. Each session runs from 5:00 pm to 7:30 pm, with students having the option of purchasing dinner from the boarding house for $14.50.

The purpose of these sessions is to provide girls with a quiet and well-resourced space that is conducive to productive homework and study time. Each SSS will be staffed by up to two tutors, who offer advice and guidance on how to plan effectively for upcoming assessments. The SSS tutor group is made up of ten young women who are currently studying at university.

For students attending SSS after an afternoon of sport, transport is available to and from Windsor Park. For those staying on after school to attend SSS, the Eunice Centre is open until 5pm prior to the commencement of the study sessions.

Parents who book their daughters in via Flexischools can feel comfortable knowing that their daughters are receiving academic support but are also interacting with peers in a physically and emotionally safe environment.

Dates for the sessions and when bookings open are below:

2026 Supervised Study Sessions

Please note the following conditions:

1. The booking cut off through Flexischools is 9:00am on the day. This enables us to plan and advise the kitchen on the number of meals that will need to be catered for in the evening. Please note, that we can only accept a maximum of 25 students, so therefore, we recommend you book well in advance to avoid missing out.
2. For bookings that miss the cut off, no dinner can be provided but students are welcome to attend SSS provided the maximum number of students has not been reached. An email notifying the school of their attendance is necessary, and this will be noted on the supervisor’s roll.
3. Dinner will be provided at the set time of 6:00pm to allow for the boarders’ dinner sittings to be finalised.
4. SSS students will occupy the first two tables located on the right-hand side upon entering the Dining Hall.

Chris Dunn

As we begin this exciting new chapter at school for 2026 we warmly welcome both our returning students and those joining us for the first time. A new school year brings a mix of emotions—anticipation, excitement, and sometimes a little nervousness. These feelings are completely natural and remind us that growth often begins outside our comfort zone.

At St Margaret’s, we believe education is a partnership between school and home. When parents and educators work together, we create a strong foundation for every student’s success. Decades of research confirm that family-school partnerships lead to higher academic achievement, better engagement, and improved wellbeing for students (Ross, 2023). As Dorothy H. Cohen wisely said, “No school can work well for children if parents and teachers do not act in partnership on behalf of the children’s best interests” (Cohen, n.d.).

As a school community, we encourage open communication and collaboration. Share your hopes and concerns with us; together, we can ensure your daughter feels supported, challenged, and inspired. Our dedicated staff, including Heads of Year, psychologists, and boarding team, are here to guide students through both triumphs and challenges.

Let’s embrace this journey with optimism and gratitude. With your partnership and our shared commitment, we can help every student flourish academically, socially, and emotionally.

References

• Cohen, D. H. (n.d.). No school can work well for children if parents and teachers do not act in partnership on behalf of the children’s best interests. Retrieved from AZQuotes [azquotes.com]
• Mandela, N. (1990, June 23). Speech at Madison Park High School, Boston. Retrieved from Oxford Reference [oxfordreference.com]
• Ross, E. M. (2023, March 21). The case for strong family and community engagement in schools. Harvard Graduate School of Education.

Nikki Townsend

We welcome new staff members, Ms Abbey Black (Prep), Ms Annika Graham (Year 1) and Mrs Millie Wilshire (Year 4). All primary teachers have worked tirelessly to create stunning learning environments and programs that will help uncover all aspects of each child’s personality and development (social, emotional, academic, spiritual, physical).

A useful source of information is the Primary Information Guide found on the POD here.  

I would encourage parents to use the POD constantly as a source of information and ensure that you set notifications for the primary school class and any groups that your daughter is involved in. Please refer to the POD Parent Guide (PDF 512.9KB) as a guide to using the POD and the St Margaret's APP set-up instructions (PDF 381.9KB) to assist you in setting up the App. These two communication systems work together, and we recommend you have both accessible on your device. Importantly, to receive information regarding the activities and extracurricular groups your child is involved in, you will need to request to “join” those groups. Instructions on how to do this are included in the attached POD guide.

I look forward to meeting parents at our Classroom Parent Information Night on Wednesday 11 February commencing at 5.30pm in your daughter’s classroom. If you have more than one child, you will be able to access the information and PowerPoint presentation for your other child’s class the following day on the POD.

In the upcoming weeks, I will also meet with the new students at morning teas. This is an opportunity for each of us to get to know each other. I also look forward to meeting new parents along with our Class Parent Ambassadors on 19 February. Information for these events will be sent out in the coming weeks.

Thank you to the many parents who ensured the ‘before and after school’ arrangements went smoothly this week. Students will wait in the Atrium under teacher supervision and move to their classes at 8:15am. As a school, we encourage the children to be independent throughout their school day. Therefore, we request that parents do not accompany their child to the classroom so that each child is responsible for organising herself for the school day.

In the afternoons, a teacher is on gate duty in Butler Street, (Monday to Thursday until 3.40pm, Friday until 3:30pm as school concludes at 3.00pm). Please note that this area is a 2-Minute Zone and is a set down and collection point only. There is to be no parking in the drop off zone. These arrangements are in place to help reduce the congestion at the school crossing and in the Atrium. For safety purposes, we request that children and adults are not to go to the rear of the vehicle to load bags, bags must be placed inside the car.

I thank parents in anticipation of their support and contribution throughout the year. I look forward to working in partnership with you.

Angela Drysdale

As part of our ongoing home learning program, I’d like to remind families about The Big Talk, an important activity that supports language development, vocabulary growth, and writing skills. This has been an integral part of our program for several years, and we continue to see the positive impact it has on our students’ ability to express themselves and engage with new ideas. Each week or fortnight, your daughter will bring home a topic or theme to discuss with your family. The topic may include a picture or a thought-provoking idea, providing a starting point for conversation. We encourage you to set aside time to talk together, where your daughter can share her thoughts and opinions on the topic.

This time of discussion is key to developing her thinking, vocabulary, and communication skills. There’s no need to write anything down unless your daughter wants to jot down a few notes to help her with her writing. The goal is to have a rich, quality conversation that prepares her for her upcoming Big Write session at school.

Once the Big Talk is complete, your daughter will use the ideas discussed at home to write independently during the Big Write session at school. In this creative environment, she will have the opportunity to develop her writing skills, drawing from the thoughts and insights shared during The Big Talk.

Thank you for your continued support in making The Big Talk a meaningful part of your daughter’s learning experience. For more details about the home learning program and recommended time allocations, please refer to the 2026 Primary Information Guide.

We look forward to another great year of learning and growth with your daughter.

Kate Frewin

Information updates will be provided via the St Margaret’s Cocurricular Music POD page. All parents who have daughters involved in the St Margaret’s Music Program are encouraged to join this page, along with Strings, Band and Choral pages, dependent upon your daughter’s involvement. You are welcome to contact the Music Department via phone: 3862 0705 or email: Music@stmargarets.qld.edu.au

Student Congratulations

Thank you to Yuna (Year 8) who provided a dazzling performance on the violin of Appassionato by Czech composer Josef Suk at the Academic Assembly held on the first day of the school year. This was a highly virtuosic performance and appreciated by everyone in attendance. Thank you also to Mr Jonny Ng who provided wonderful accompaniment on the piano.

Congratulations to SHEP students

Congratulations to the students who participated in the Primary State Honours Ensemble Program (SHEP) at the end of Term 4 last year. SHEP brings together talented students from around Queensland to work with specialist conductors in a variety of ensembles at the Queensland Conservatorium of Music, Griffith University. It is always a wonderful opportunity for students to further develop their musical capacity. Congratulations to the following students: Emily (violin, Year 5), Paris (violin, Year 6) and Grace (violin, Year 6).

Staff News

The St Margaret’s Music Department is very pleased to welcome a new Double Bass teacher for 2026. Ms Marian Heckenberg is a member of Queensland’s Chamber Orchestra, Camerata, and also currently teaches at Brisbane Boys College. She comes with a wealth of teaching experience from many schools and performing experience in professional orchestras and we are thrilled to have her as part of the St Margaret’s music team.

Private Music Lessons will start in Week 2

Private music lessons will commence in Week 2. On Friday 30 January during lunchtime, students from Years 4 -12 are asked to come to the Sister Helen Orchestra Room (SHOR) to meet their private music teacher and arrange a lesson time for Week 2. If a student is in a younger grade, or is unable to attend that day, the music teacher will contact parents/students directly to arrange a lesson time. Please note it is not too late to enrol your daughter in private music lessons. Please click here for the enrolment form: Application for Private Music Tuition. There have been many requests from parents for lesson times to occur outside of school time. Whilst every effort will be made to accommodate these requests, it may not always be possible. Older students in the Secondary School will be given first preference for these time slots. Thank you for your understanding in this matter.

Music Ensemble Rehearsals will start in Week 2

Rehearsals for all music ensembles will commence from Week 2 and we are looking forward to having many girls involved! Ensemble lists and the ensemble timetable have been placed on the relevant Strings, Band and Choral POD pages. If students are interested in participating and have not yet auditioned, please contact the Music Department (music@stmargarets.qld.edu.au) by email to arrange an audition time.

Return of Hire Instruments

Please ensure that all instruments that were hired over the Christmas holidays are returned to the Music Department by the end of Week 1.

2026 Dates

Please note important music dates for 2026 below.

Message from Music Support Group President

Welcome back to all our existing and new music families from both the primary and secondary school. We cannot wait to see what the year brings for all our students and the magic they make.

We have our first fundraising opportunity next weekend and would love for your support. We have been given the opportunity to run the poolside BBQ for the Water Polo matches on Saturday 7 February 2026. If you can spare 1.5 hours for a shift, please click on this link: https://signup.com/go/ZLiJJsu

Further, all parents are encouraged to join the Support Group POD page to keep up to date with the ways in which you can support the Music Department and the students during the year. Please join here: https://pod.stmargarets.qld.edu.au/homepage/8562/

Finally, the next Music Support Group meeting will be held on Tuesday 3 February 2026 at 5:00pm in the Canopy Café. We encourage parents from both primary and secondary schools to become involved. If you cannot attend in person, a Teams link will be posted on the Music Support Group POD page.

Brad King

Participation Guidelines

As a reminder, St Margaret’s recommend students participate in 1-2 sports at any given time within the school year.

Students should not participate in any more than 3 sports at any given time within the school year without sought permission from the Director of Sport.

• Students can only participate in one (1) seasonal sport in the Autumn and Winter seasons:
  • Autumn Season must choose between Basketball, Soccer or Touch Football.
  • Winter Season must choose between Hockey, Netball, Tennis or Volleyball.
• Students who participate in Rowing cannot participate in Winter Season Sport.

Program Communication

The St Margaret’s sport program information is accessible via the POD platform. Students and parents are encouraged to join the Secondary Sport POD page to stay up to date with all the latest information. Students who sign up for a particular sport will be automatically added to the respective sports POD Page. The POD is accessible through the School App and notifications can be received via smart phone.

Sport Expectations

We are always striving to do things at St Margaret's; a way in which we seek to treat people throughout our community; and a way in which we aim to serve others. Underpinned by our school values, our St Margaret’s way extends itself to the way in which we behave and perform in sport.

• It is expected all students selected within St Margaret’s representative teams will attend all required trainings and fixtured matches.
  • If unable to do so, for legitimate reason, communication with the Sport Coordinator is expected.

Students are able to continue to sign up for activities on offer in Term 1. These include Cross Country, Cricket, AFL Senior, Artistic Gymnastics, Soccer, Basketball and Touch Football. Students can also access our Strength and Conditioning program. All these details can be found on the Secondary Sport POD and individual sport POD Pages.

As mentioned at the end of 2025, St Margaret’s is relaunching the Flyers Program across both sport and music. All students must apply or reapply by the end of Week 2 and the outcome will be communicated to all students in Week 4. For information about the Sporting Flyers Program, please access the Sport Flyers POD page.

The sport team are happy to recognise the outstanding achievements and representation of students participating at a national level, outside of the school sport pathway. I look forward to continuing to hear from our community regarding such outstanding achievement. Please directly contact Ms Williams via awilliams@stmargarets.qld.edu.au.

Secondary Sport Year in Review 2025

Anne Louise Williams

If your daughter is not already enrolled and you would like her to commence Speech and Drama lessons, please complete the online Application for Tuition form as soon as possible by clicking HERE. Places in the program are limited and are provided to continuing students and then to new students based on the order in which enrolment applications are received and according to availability of spaces in each year level.

Further information about the program can be found on the Private Speech & Drama POD Page. If you have any enquiries, please contact the Coordinator, Maria Chamberlain at mchamberlain@stmargarets.qld.edu.au.

We are looking forward to another exciting year of cultivating confident, capable communicators.

Maria Chamberlain
Coordinator
Private Speech and Drama

Volunteering at St Margaret’s

We acknowledge the important work that volunteers carry out within our school environment. Assistance, whether it is as a volunteer in the classroom, tuckshop, excursions, P&F activities or sporting carnivals, enhances the quality of your child’s teaching and learning experience.

If any parent is volunteering in the school, they must fill out the Volunteer Application form, found at the following link: https://www.stmargarets.qld.edu.au/discover-st-margarets/student-protection/volunteering-at-st-margarets/volunteering-at-st-margarets. This link will give you all the information about volunteering, as well as the volunteer register link. Please note that each volunteer must fill out a new form each year, as the application is only valid for one calendar year.

Please also be aware that there is a Volunteer Code of Conduct available on The POD.

Secondary Mother Daughter Summer Social

The St Margaret’s P&F Association invites all girls in Years 7 to 12 and their mothers or significant women in their lives to the Secondary Mother Daughter Summer Social.

Join us for an unforgettable afternoon of fun, laughter, and bonding at a premier Brisbane rooftop destination! Enjoy delicious food, refreshing drinks, and fabulous entertainment, including a live DJ spinning your favourite tunes!

Date                      Sunday 22 February 2026
Time                     11:00am - 3:00pm
Venue                   Lina Rooftop Bar, 74/80 Tribune St, South Brisbane

Cost                       $140 Adult (includes a Lina Spritz on arrival)

                               $110 Student (includes 4-hour soft drink package)

Dress                    Summer Chic

We realise that it is not possible for all girls to invite their mothers and we would encourage them to invite a significant woman in their life, a relative or family friend.

Tickets are available here: https://www.trybooking.com/events/landing/1469168 (until 5 February unless sold out prior).

St Margaret’s Fathers’ Dinner

The St Margaret’s P&F Association invites all St Margaret's fathers and father figures to the 2026 Fathers' Dinner, featuring guest speaker, Wally Lewis AM.

Date:     Friday 13 March 2026

Time:    6:30pm arrival for 7:00pm start

Venue:  Rivershed at Howard Smith Wharves  

Cost:     $229 per person - includes a meal and drinks package for the evening.

Tables:  Maximum table capacity is 10 people. Seating requests can be made by nominating a Table Captain or Year Group at the time of booking. Best efforts will be made to meet any requests.

Tickets are available here: https://www.trybooking.com/events/landing/1459800 (until Wednesday 25 February 2026, unless sold out prior).

This event is proudly supported by Supporting Sponsors: Morgans

Lara Pickering